Standoff spacer and clamp for television antenna lead-in conductors



Nov. 8, 1955 D. WARD 2,723,303

STANDOFF SPACER AND CLAMP FOR TELEVISION ANTENNA LEAD-IN CONDUCTORS Fileug- 2, 19 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DONALD W R0 ATTOPA/fV STANDOFFSPACER AND CLAMP FOR TELE- VISION ANTENNA LEAD-IN CONDUCTORS Thisinvention relates to auxiliary supports and clamps for mountingtelevision antenna lead-in conductors of the double wire type, in whichtwo wires or sets of strands of wire are embedded in a flexible plasticmaterial, to form a ribbon-like conductor.

This type of conductor, or lead-in wire is used for connecting outdoortelevision antennas to sets mounted in a building.

As most of the antennas in apartment houses, or other multiple-storybuildings are mounted on the roof of the building, with the set locatedin an apartment, several floors below, it is necessary to support a longlead-in conductor from the aerial to the set.

In order to support the double wire lead-in conductor, a stand-off inthe form of a screw having a loop formed at the outer end thereof isattached to the building at spaced intervals, the conductor beingsupported in a grommet fitted to the loop, with a plug inserted in theopening in the grommet, gripping the conductor.

To avoid interference and inductive disturbances due to contact with thebuilding wall, the stand-olfs must be spaced at such a distance as toavoid whipping of the wire, and possible contact with the building.

This necessitates screwing a standoff into the building Wall, or into aplug inserted in the brick or other material of the Wall, at spacedintervals, or approximately one at each floor.

Inserting the standofis at each floor necessitates reaching through awindow of each apartment, above the apartment in which the set ismounted.

It is frequently difiicult, or almost impossible to obtain access to theother apartments, except at special hours, so that several trips areoften necessary, in order to install a single antenna. This sharplyincreases the cost of the installation.

In order to overcome this difiiculty, the conductor may be supported bytwo standoir's of the conventional type, one of which is located nearthe roof, and the other, at a point below the window of the apartment,in which the set is to be mounted, with a plurality of spacers attachedto the conductor, at spaced intervals between the standoffs.

At the lower end of the conductor, below the window through which theconductor is led into the apartment, a clamp may be attached to thelead-in conductor, with a tension spring attached to the lower end ofthe clamp to hold the conductor taut at all times.

The object of my invention is to provide auxiliary supports for atelevision antenna lead-in conductor, which will hold the conductor at apredetermined distance from the wall of a building, and avoid thenecessity of attaching standoffs at each floor.

A further object is to provide a clamp for the free end of the lead-inconductor, which will grip the conductor in a position substantiallyparallel to the building, with means attached to the clamp to maintainthe tension in the wire, under all conditions.

Another object is to reduce the time required, "and the cost ofinstalling a television lead-in conductor, "by-elimiite States Patent2,723,303 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 "ice nating the necessity for insertingscrewed standoffs, at each floor.

A primary object is to provide a set of relatively simple standofispacers, which can be installed without special tools or skills, and canbe installed at a point, remote from the point at which they engage thewall of the buildmg.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of several embodiments of myinvention, together with the description of their construction and themethod of installation thereof, will serve to clarify further objectsand advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of one embodiment of the assembledstandoff spacer, mounted on a two-wire conductor.

Fig. 2 is a section through the spacer elements of Fig. 1, taken at 22,Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the side of a building with the lead-inconductor supported by a standofi? near the roof and flexibly attachedto the standoff at the bottom by a clamp, with the standofi spacersshown at several intermediate points.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the assembled standoifspacer, similar to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 represents a section through the spacer elements of Fig. 4, takenat 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the hub of the spacer of Fig. 4, withthe lead-in conductor in place, taken at 6-6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a full-size front elevation of the standoif spacer of Figs. 1and 2.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a clamp assembly, mounted at the bottomof the lead-in conductor of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the clamp assembly of Fig.8, takenat 99, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section, through a modification of the hub of thespacer shown in Figs. 4 and 5, taken at 10--10, Fig. 5.

It will be understood that the following description of the constructionand method of installation of the Standofif spacers and clamps fortelevision antenna leadin conductors is intended as explanatory of theinvention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same partsthroughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the standoff spacer 10, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,comprises two substantially semicircular discs 11 and 12, joined at thecenter, with the two hub sections 13 and 14, of substantially circularsegmental cross-section, formed integral with the discs, at the centerof the junction lines 15 and 16, of the disc sections, aligned at theopposite'faces 17 and 18, of a parallel faced slot 19, formed at thejunction line between the two hub sections, the faces of the slotengaging the sides of a ribbon-like television antenna leadin conductor20, having two parallel braided wires 21 and 21a, irnbedded in aflexible plastic material, as indicated in Fig. l.

The spacer sections may be molded of a plastic material, or othersuitable material, which will not interfere with the transmissioncharacteristics of the conductor, or set up inductive disturbancestherein.

A projection 22, formed integral with one of the spacer sections, may belocated at the outer circumference of the disc sections, beyond thejunction edges '15 and 16, between the two disc sections, the projection22, fitting into a counterbore 23, impressed in a boss with the oppositespacer disc section, the projection being located diametricallyopposite, at the outer circumference of the disc sections, and fittinginto a counterbore 23a, formed in the boss 24a, located in substantialalignment with the projection, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

An opening 25 may be formed in each of the projections 22, 22a and asimilar opening 26, in substantial alignment with it, formed in thebosses 24, 24a, cotter pin 27, or other suitable attaching means, beingfitted through the openings to connect the two disc sections, asindicated in Fig. 2.

Reinforcing ribs 28 and 29 may be formed integral with each discsection, adjoining the junction faces of the disc, one rib 28, extendingoutward from the hub section toward the outer circumference of the disc,a similar pair of ribs 29 and 30, being formed at the opposite side ofthe disc, between the hub section 13 and the boss 24, at the outercircumference, to stifien the disc, where thin tapered discs are used,as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The disc sections may be tapered from a thin section, at the outercircumference, to a thicker section at the junction with the hubsection, as indicated in Fig. 5, or the sides may be substantiallystraight and parallel, depending upon the disc thickness, the diameterof the disc, and the material of which the disc sections are made.

Where the disc section thickness is made heavier, the ribs 28, 29, and30 may be eliminated entirely.

The outer radius of the disc sections would be made equal to or greaterthan the distance between the edge of the wall and the center of theloop in the fixed standofi 31, attached to the wall, near the roof ofthe building, as indicated in Fig. 3, the spacers and 10a holding thelead-in conductor substantially parallel to the forward wall 32, of thebuilding, over the entire intermediate height, between the fixedstandoff 31, at the top, and the clamp support standoff 33, locatedbelow the window opening, as indicated in Fig. 3. The section 34, of theconductor between the standoff 31, and the upper spacer 10, and thelower section 35, of the conductor, between the lower spacer, and thebottom clamp-support standoff may slope inward toward the wall, to keepthe outer edges of the spacer discs in contact with the wall at alltimes.

Another embodiment of the standoff spacer, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, alsocomprises two substantially semicircular discs 36 and 37, with two hubsections 38 and 39, also of circular segmental cross-section, formedintegral with the discs, at the center of the junction lines 40 and 41,of the disc sections, with the parallel wall faces 17 and 18, of aparallel-faced slot, formed at the junction wall of the hubs, engagingthe sides of the lead-in conductor, in a manner substantially as shownin Fig. 1. A pair of projecting bosses 42 and 43 may be formed at theopposite faces of the hub sections, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, acentral web 44, formed integral with the opposite hub section slidablyfitting into a slot 45, formed between the projecting bosses 42. and42a, and 43 and 4311, as indicated in Fig. 5.

An opening 46 may be formed in each of the bosses 42 and 43, and asimilar opening 47, in substantial alignment with it, formed in the web,cotter pins 48, or other suitable attaching means, being insertedthrough the openings 46 and 47, to connect the two huh sections, asindicated in Fig. 5.

The opening 47, formed in the web section, may be substantiallycircular, and in alignment with the open ings 46, formed in the bosses,or the central opening, formed in the web, may be ovalled in the form ofan elongated slot 50, as indicated in Fig. 10, to facilitate assemblyand the insertion of the cotter pins, through the openings.

The junction lines 40 and. 41, of the adjacent disc sections, may besloped, as indicated in Fig. 4, a triangular gap being formed betweenthe junction lines, the abutting faces of the hub sections, locating thedisc sections.

The walls 17 and 18 of the slot, which engage the faces of the lead-inconductor may be formed in a reverse curve 54, as indicated in sectionin Fig. 6, in order to securely grip the lead-in conductor, between thetwo sections of the boss, the upper and lower end 55, of the slot,adjacent the faces of the boss, being substantially perpendicular to theboss faces, in order to guide the projecting ends 56 of the conductor,substantially parallel to the spacer disc axis.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a clamp used to grip the lower end of the lead-inconductor 20, below the window 60, or other form of opening, in thebuilding wall, through which the lead-in conductor is fed for connectionto the set, located within an apartment.

The clamp comprises three blocks or sections, a central block 61, andtwo side blocks 62 and 63. One section of the conductor is clampedbetween the substantially parallel faces 64 and 65, of two groovesformed in the adjacent sides of the central block 61, and the side block63, respectively, as indicated in Fig. 9, a gap being formed be tweenthe adjoining faces 66 and 67 of the blocks, to enable the groove facesto grip the conductor.

The lower end of the conductor may be looped upward at 68, the free endof the conductor being clamped between the substantially parallel faces64:: and 65a, of the grooves formed in the opposite side of the centralblock 61, and the adjoining face of the side block 62, respectively, asindicated in Fig. 9, in substantially the same manner as the othersection of the conductor, above described, a gap being formed betweenthe adjoining faces 66a and 67a, of the blocks.

A plurality of bolts 70, or other suitable attaching means, may befitted through openings 71, formed in the blocks 61, 62, and 63, aplurality of nuts 72, threadably fitted on each of the bolts, clampingthe side blocks 62 and 63, between the heads of the bolts and the nuts,thus gripping both conductor sections between the central block, and theside blocks simultaneously.

A tension spring-74, or other suitable form of tensioning device, may beinserted between the side block 62, and the clamp support standoff 33,attached to the wall of the building, below the window opening 60, aloop 75, formed at one end of the spring, fitting through an opening 76,formed in the side block 62, the loop 77, formed at the opposite end ofthe spring, fitting into a loop or hook 78, formed at the end of thestandoff, the tension in the spring 74, holding the conductor 20, tautover its entire length, the spring compensating for the differences inrates of expansion and contraction between the building wall and thelength of the conductor, due to temperature changes, and climaticvariations.

The parallel-faced slots into which the conductor is fitted, shown inFigs. 1, 4 and 6, may be formed straight through the hub sections, or inany other suitable form, in place of the reverse curve, shown in Fig. 6.

In place of the cotter pins, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to connect the twospacer sections, bolts, pins, or any other suitable connecting means maybe substituted.

A hinge pin may be substituted at one side, in the construction shown inFigs. 1 and 2, in order to hold the two sections together prior tomounting on the conductor, with a cotter pin, or other suitableconnecting means inserted at the other side after mounting the spacersections on the conductor.

The boss sections, shown of substantially circular crosssection, whenassembled, in Figs. 1 and 4, may be made of rectangular, oval or othersuitable cross-section, depending upon the position of theconductor-receiving slot.

Instead of the circular disc shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the outercircumference may be slotted at various points, to

form a series of engaging surfaces, thus reducing the Weight of theassembled spacer.

The ribs shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to reinforce and stiffen the discsections, may be eliminated, where the thickness of the disc, or thematerial of which it is made, does not require reinforcement.

In place of the coiled tension spring, attached to the clamp in Figs. 3and 8, a flexible element in the form of rubber cord, or other suitableflexible connection, may be substituted.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my presentinvention is not limited to the specific details described above andshown in the drawings, and that various further modifications arepossible in carrying out the features of the invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An insulating spacer for separating a ribbon-like electricalconductor from a wall, comprising a split disc formed in two abuttingsections, said disc being made of an insulating plastic material, a hubsection formed integral with each section of said split disc, a grooveformed in the mating wall of each of said hub sections, the faces ofsaid grooves in the opposite hub sections being substantially parallel,the faces of said grooves engaging the sides of said conductor, aprojection formed integral with each section of said split disc, a bossformed integral with the opposite disc section in substantial alignmentwith said projection, each of said projections and bosses having anopening formed therethrough, and means fitted through said openingsconnecting the disc sections, to grip the conductor betweenthe hubsections.

2. An insulating spacer for separating a ribbon-like electricalconductor from a wall, comprising a split disc of substantially circularcontour, when assembled, said disc being formed in two abutting sectionsa hub section formed integral with each section of said split disc, saiddisc and hub sections being molded of a plastic material, a grooveformed in the mating wall of each of said hub sections, the faces ofsaid grooves in the opposite hub sections being substantially parallel,the faces of said grooves engaging the sides of said conductor, a pairof projecformed integral with the opposite split disc section, insubstantial alignment with said projections, each of said projectionsand bosses having an opening formed therethrough, and means fittedthrough said openings, connecting the split disc sections to retain theconductor between the hub sections.

3. An insulating spacer for spacedly supporting a tapelike electricalconductor relative to a wall, comprising a pair of abutting,substantially semi-circular elements, a section of a split substantiallycylindrical hub integral with each of the abutting semi-circularelements, the hub having a parallel-faced groove of arcuate profileformed therein, the opposite faces of said groove being formed onopposite sides of the hub split line, a pair of projections integralwith one of the semi-circular elements, adjacent the outer circumferencethereof, a pair of bosses integral with the opposite semi-circularelement, in substantial alignment with the projections, each of saidprojections and bosses having an opening therethrough, and a pair ofpins fitted through said openings, connecting the abutting semi-circularelements to retain the conductor within the split hub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS346,688 Robinson Aug. 3, 1886 1,675,589 Babineau July 3, 1928 1,819,500Cooke Aug. 18, 1931 1,854,865 Snyder Apr. 19, 1932 1,884,037 Malone Oct.25, 1932 1,984,355 Abbott Dec. 18, 1934 2,085,077 Fox et a1. June 29,1937 2,313,972 Rugg et a1 Mar. 16, 1943 2,398,996 Benander Apr. 23, 19462,482,567 Trowbridge Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 48,228 France Aug.10, 1937 538,119 Great Britain July 22, 1941

